Impeccable Intuition

Intuition is something that I’ve believed in (& listened to) for a long, long time. Logic and reason are certainly effective tools for decision-making, but intuition is something altogether different that is incredibly powerful and feels almost magical.

Intuition is the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. The word intuition means “in to you” in Latin. Intuition is a wonderful way of just knowing something. It helps with decisions in ways that the logical mind lacks.

I have engaged my intuition a lot over the years, both personally as well as professionally. I’ve always thought it was so cool and a Silver Lining in my life.

You may remember that I had a pretty profound intuitive experience prior to my diagnosis. The day I went for my mammogram and ultrasound, the HOTY (a/k/a Husband of the Year) left on a 5 day trip to Israel with dear friends. This couples-trip had been planned nearly a year in advance. At the onset of the planning, I knew that I was not supposed to be on this trip. Why? I had no clue. Though I knew it would be an absolutely incredible, over-the-top trip, I just knew that I was not supposed to go. As it turns out, my diagnosis came right after the HOTY landed in Israel which means that he had to turn around and come right home (on the exact same plane & exact same seat, by the way). I could hardly have imagined that I would have been diagnosed with FBC (F-bomb breast cancer), but I knew that I wasn’t supposed to go. Intuition speaking.

My intuition is manifested through physical sensations. I feel it. Sometimes I get goosebumps. Other times my tummy does flip-flops. Some people hear intuition and others have visions.

Since my FBC diagnosis, I have invited my intuition to point things out to me that I might not otherwise see.

The way I fully engage my intuition is by slowing down when making decisions. As a option presents itself to me (e.g., Do I? Don’t I?), I spend an extra moment paying full attention to my body as it absorbs the atmosphere of the choice. Then I take time with each option. If I notice something different about my reaction to one option, I try to figure out what it means and how my intuition is speaking to me.

Another example of engaging my intuition was when we faced a health scare with our daughter, a/k/a Finally Five, this spring (don’t worry, she is fine – Silver Lining!).

Everything about her initial diagnosis and medication prescription felt wrong. However, I was in the bottomless pit of chemo despair and doubted my intuition. Therefore, I engaged my logical thought process and rationalized that because I felt so rotten on my medication that she would feel awful on her medication. And I didn’t want her feeling as badly as I did.

Despite what I was thinking, every ounce of my intuition said N-O to her initial diagnosis and treatment plan. To make a long story short, the HOTY and I decided to seek clinical advice elsewhere and found that she was not only misdiagnosed but did not need any treatment. We followed our intuition. And our intuition was right.

One thing about intuition is that it is very quiet and has little chance of being heard if you don’t silence the mind chatter and become more mindful. It takes time to tame the analytical part of the mind to stay quiet. The more awake, aware and attentive I am, the more intuitive I become. It’s amazing how it all comes together!

I believe that when we consistently turn to our intuition for answers on the little things, we can trust it on the big things. Trusting intuition means trusting yourself and your innate authority. Intuition is an incredible resource and gift that we have been given to help us live our best life (Silver Lining).

Comments

I like this and have actually been thinking about writing about intuition and the role it plays in kids' lives. Animals rely on instinct; if they don't, they die. I don't think we give enough credit to the importance of intuition. Nice post! Thank you.

hi Hollye I agree 100%. Intuition is amazing and real and we must all listen to it. I have many examples and here is a relevant one: last Christmas I actually set the table for Christmas lunch 7 days before the 25th. I had even bought or ordered all the food too. I just felt I needed to. And as it turned out my cancer diagnosis was 5 days before Christmas. If I hadn't done all the preparation stuff, Christmas would not have happened as it turned out I was in hospital until the 24th. It was like I knew something was going to happen to me in that last week…

I completely agree. It is one of the gifts we've been given, and should not be taken for granted. Admittedly, I tend to get lost in the chatter of my crazy life. It is only when I stop and breathe that I can be present, aware, and grateful of most thing, even the things that appear difficult. There is an SL in everything. We just need to "stop", to find it.
Thank you for this, and all of your wisdoms. Love you and miss you

Hollye,
As always, perfectly stated….challenge is to not get distracted by the clutter and forget to trust our quiet but "spot on" intuition. Thanks for reminder of the wisdom sitting right here within us. MB

here in Africa we call it following your "gut feel" … works great for me always has done … silly example – the route we took back from our Kruger Holiday (it was great by the way!) I was not happy … so changed it …. well on the other route we may well have landed up in a 10 car pile up or at the least have gotten stuck for hours behind the carnage! Still love your posts H and still amazed at this journey we share …. Theresa

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Hollye’s book, The Silver Lining: A Supportive and Insightful Guide to Breast Cancer, was published by Simon & Schuster on March 2014. The book is co-authored by her dear friend, photographer Elizabeth Messina. It became a New York Times, Washington Post and LA Times bestseller.